Tough Day for Vickers at Pikes Peak

By HendrickMotorsports.com

Tough Day for Vickers at Pikes Peak

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (July 28, 2003) - The GMAC Racing team qualified a season-best fourth for Saturday’s TrimSpa 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway, but the effort did not ensure a good finish for the team and driver Brian Vickers.
After capturing the second-place position on Lap 17, Vickers was involved in an accident on Lap 29 when two cars spun exiting Turn 4. He managed to slow the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet to avoid the first car, but had nowhere to go when the No. 16 of Larry Gunselman slid into his path.
The damage to the car was significant and Vickers was unable to return to the race, finishing 29th.
“We had an awesome car and we were going to contend for the win,” Vickers said. “I feel so bad for everyone on this team. I got the car slowed down to avoid the first car, but when the second car spun I couldn’t do anything to avoid it.
“It’s going to hurt us a little bit in the points, but there are still plenty of races left. It’s a long season. This team never gives up and we’re not going to start now.”
The finish dropped Vickers from third to fifth place in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings, 124 points behind leader Scott Riggs.
The GMAC Racing team will regroup and return to action under the lights on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Live coverage of the event will begin at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and MRN Radio.